Great powers have a way of persuading small countries. If China wanted it, there is little SL could do - China can 'make an offer they can't refuse'. Look at th

Great powers have a way of persuading small countries. If China wanted it, there is little SL could do - China can 'make an offer they can't refuse'. Look at the South China Sea. For example, if SL resisted and China ignored them then the SL leader would be humiliated and might fall from power and/or China might replace them with someone more agreeable. I think SL's only protection would be if another power, India in particular, decided it was in their interest to push out China. I'm surprised India has allowed China to get a foothold there. Compare SL to Cuba: Castro survived, AFAICT, because the USSR supported him and used Cuba as a geostrategic base.